A freedom of information request has revealed that government departments spent more than £8.6 million on recurring software costs in 2025.
The applicant had asked for the total cost of one‑time software purchases, recurring software and licence fees, and the cost of externally supplied software support.
After seeking clarification, the Cabinet Office confirmed that no one‑time software purchases were made during the period, as all products are renewed annually.
In its response, the department reported £8,680,561.21 in recurring software expenses for 2025, along with £278,239.83 spent on externally supplied software licences.
The Cabinet Office said it did not hold any further information relevant to the request.
The full freedom of information response can be found here.
